Norwalk judge reduces bond for suicidal gunman

Updated 10:09 pm, Friday, October 12, 2012

NORWALK -- A day after forcing the lockdown and evacuation of a three-block area in South Norwalk, the suicidal gunman who fired a high-powered rifle and then threatened to kill police if they entered his apartment, had his bond reduced during an appearance Friday in state Superior Court in Norwalk.

Judge William Wenzel lowered the bond for William Loeffel, 23, from $150,000 to $25,000 but insisted that if he were to be released he would have to go directly from the courthouse to Norwalk Hospital and be admitted to an in-patient psychological evaluation and treatment program.

According to the police reports of the incident that led to Loeffel's arrest for firing a warning shot to deter police from coming to his home, the out-of work merchant marine snapped after drinking tequila and his 23-year-old girlfriend came home to find him drunk and threatened to break up with him over his continual alcohol use.

Loeffel was arraigned on charges of illegal discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree breach of peace and first-degree threatening for allegedly telling a 911 dispatcher that he would shoot police officers in the head with a hollow point bullet if they came after him.

Wenzel was about to move the case over to the family violence docket at the courthouse, but then told Loeffel's attorney, Susan Filan, that he wanted to see Loeffel on Nov. 5 to see what progress is being made with his mental health.

Filan said that she believed that her client would agree that he needs some psychological help.

Wenzel then signed a protective order that would bar Loeffel from contacting his girlfriend in any way.

The woman told police that she came home at 2 p.m. to find an empty bottle of Tequila on the floor and Loeffel, who has been her live-in boyfriend of one year, drunk. When she confronted him over his months long abuse of alcohol, he became aggressive.

Loeffel grabbed her and held her down on the bed and put a hand over her mouth, the police report said. She was able to get away and told Loeffel that he had crossed the line and she was going to break up with him no matter what.

After some discussions about how to split up, Loeffel told her that he wanted to kill himself.

The girlfriend blocked his way into the bedroom where she knew he had a rifle. But she then fled into the front yard when she became concerned for her own safety, the reports said.

He then came down the stairs and stood in the doorway with the rifle barrel under his chin and told her to come back inside and talk to him, or he would shoot himself.

When she told him that she was just then talking to the police, he told her to tell them that he would shoot himself if they showed up at his home, the report said. Police then began closing schools and evacuating nearby residents.

As the standoff began Loeffel told a dispatcher that if he heard police officer trying to get into his apartment he would fire a warning shot, "and after that, that's it," according to a police report.

Then the dispatcher heard Loeffel fire a single shot and pull the bolt of the rifle back to expel the spent casing. He was then recorded saying, "Come on in... You know how this is ending, just so you understand, this is only ending one way. Anyone comes through that door, first I'm shooting him, then I am shooting myself."

After more than an hour of negotiations, Loeffel turned himself over to police.